Leading up to our November 10 showcase, we'll be getting you familiar with some of our Dallas Observer Music Awards nominees, either via past features we've done on them, or new ones. You can vote for your favorite acts, venues and more right here.
Warbeast These old school thrash metalists - Bruce Corbitt, Scott Shelby, Bobby Tillotson, Dre Karst and Joe Gonzalez - joined together in 2008 under the name Texas Metal Alliance. In 2009, they changed their name to reflect their "pulverizing riffs" and "pummeling double bass." Warbeast's music sounds like a terrifying offspring of Rigor Mortis and Slayer. Prepare to be slayed.
Akkolyte This iconic brotherly duo - Stefan and Aaron Gonzalez - are bound to thrash your minds with their thought-slaying riffs and alchemical-laced songs such as "Hermetic Tree," "Generation of Fuckfaces" and "Demoralizing Void of Shit." Latest LP Clues in the Chaospile adds further proof.
Pinkish Black Although the members of this band - Jon Teague and Daron Beck - are from that other town, their metal is sure to send your mind to the darkside of the moon. It's a hellish mixture of Floydism, Suicide, Rapeman and Throbbing Gristle.
Maleveller This band is one of the only Dallas-based bands whose mosh pit will likely be filled with lawyers, teachers and doctors as well as your typical tattooed metalhead. These adopted thrashers - Brian Smith, T.J. Prendergast, Max Cady and Jeff Biehler - will blow their speakers and your minds with their song weaving.
Bludded Head Mike Forbes, Nevada Hill and Darcy Neal inspire with killer riffs, crushing drum beats and a fucking cello. Somewhere between heaven and hell, you'll find their Muse chilling with a flying cat and dude who goes around bleeding on people.
Terminator 2 Don't let their name fool you. This trio - David Saylor, Ben Scott and Rob Buttrum - is "the sound of the Human Machine shutting down forever." With two amps plugged in stereo, giving each tone its own voice, this cybernetic band sets its sights on the guts of the machine.
